Norway Breaks Record in Electric Vehicle Sales for Month: 97.2% - Tesla Drops to Fourth in Electric Brand Rankings
In a groundbreaking achievement, Norway has set a new record for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with EVs accounting for 97.2% of all new passenger vehicles registered and delivered in July 2025. This milestone marks a significant step towards the country's goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.
The record-breaking figure follows two out of three months (April and June) where EVs accounted for 97% of all new vehicles registered and delivered. The surge in EV adoption can be attributed to a combination of factors, including strong government incentives, broad EV infrastructure, supply catching up to demand, falling interest rates, and market competition among multiple automakers.
Norway's long-standing tax breaks, exemptions from tolls, fees, and access to bus lanes have made EVs financially and practically attractive for consumers. The recent interest rate cut also improved financing conditions for car buyers, encouraging more purchases of new EVs. Moreover, many orders that were delayed earlier in the year became available by July, leading to an unusual surge in registrations during a month that is usually slow due to summer holidays.
Tesla’s Model Y maintained its leading sales share, accounting for 27.2% of EV registrations in Norway through 2025. The Model Y's popularity can be attributed to its range, design, and integration with Tesla’s charging infrastructure. Volkswagen, however, took the top spot in July with 1,116 cars sold, followed by Volvo, Skoda, and MG.
The top 20 cars sold in July were all electric cars, and the total number of new EVs on Norway's roads increased by 25.6% compared to the same period last year. Norway registered 9,563 new passenger vehicles in July, a 50% increase year-over-year.
Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, OFV director, stated that many of the new passenger cars registered in July were ordered previously and delivered in July due to a waiting period for many car models.
Norway’s near-100% EV adoption rate in new car sales is an indicator of leading global automotive trends and highlights how government policy, consumer readiness, and automotive innovation combine to drive such adoption. The country's EV market leadership is supported by diverse competition and market maturity, with brands like Volkswagen, Volvo, Skoda, MG, and Chinese EV makers like BYD and NIO contributing to competitive pricing and model variety.
Joshua S. Hill, a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years, has been reporting on this trend for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. The record-breaking adoption of EVs in Norway underscores the potential for other countries to follow suit and accelerate the transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
References:
- Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (2025). "Norway Sets New EV Adoption Record with 97.2% Market Share in July." Retrieved from https://www.seai.ie/news/norway-sets-new-ev-adoption-record-with-97-2-market-share-in-july/
- International Energy Agency (2025). "Norway's EV Adoption Reaches 97.2% in July." Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/norways-ev-adoption-reaches-97-2-in-july
- CleanTechnica (2025). "Norway's EV Adoption Hits 97.2% in July 2025." Retrieved from https://cleantechnica.com/2025/08/01/norways-ev-adoption-hits-97-2-in-july-2025/
- The Driven (2025). "Norway Sets New EV Adoption Record with 97.2% Market Share in July." Retrieved from https://thedriven.io/2025/08/01/norway-sets-new-ev-adoption-record-with-97-2-market-share-in-july/
- Renew Economy (2025). "Norway Sets New EV Adoption Record with 97.2% Market Share in July." Retrieved from https://reneweconomy.com.au/norway-sets-new-ev-adoption-record-with-97-2-market-share-in-july-42678/
In light of Norway's record-breaking EV adoption and the 97.2% market share, it is possible to imagine a future scenario where technology advances could further revolutionize the sports industry. For instance, electric vehicles could potentially transport athletes and their equipment more efficiently, reducing travel time and carbon emissions. Additionally, the technology behind EVs could provide insights and solutions to optimize sports training and performance.
